What is the bailey in a medieval castle?

A bailey is the sturdy wall around a castle that keeps invaders out. The bailey of a medieval castle was usually built of stone. You might see a bailey — or the remains of one — if you tour a castle in England or France.

Where is the bailey located on a castle?

The bailey was an open area inside the castle complex that contained the domestic and other necessary buildings of castle life. The inner bailey was an area inside the main castle, while the outer bailey lay outside the central castle defences, and was therefore more vulnerable to attack.

What is the function of a bailey?

A bailey is an enclosed courtyard, typically surrounded by a wooden palisade overlooked by the motte. It was used as a living area by vassals who served the lord of the castle, generally including a blacksmith, a miller and most of the necessary craftsmen of the age.

What is the bailey in a stone keep castle?

The castle is made up of two parts. The motte is a raised mound or earthwork which would have a stone or wooden keep on top. A keep is a kind fortified tower. The bailey is an enclosed courtyard that was protected by a ditch and a palisade – which is a wall made from wooden stakes.

What is outer bailey?

An outer bailey or outer ward is the defended outer enclosure of a castle. It protects the inner bailey and usually contains those ancillary buildings used for the management of the castle or the supply of its occupants.

What is the definition of Bailey?

Definition of bailey. (Entry 1 of 4) 1 : the outer wall of a castle or any of several walls surrounding the keep. 2 : a courtyard within the external wall or between two outer walls of a castle. Bailey. biographical name (1)

What is a bailey wall?

The definition of bailey is a protective wall surrounding a castle, or the outdoor space created by the castle’s protective walls. In a movie where people are fighting from the top of a castle wall trying to keep out the approaching enemy, the outermost wall is an example of a bailey.